Thread-clip for sewing-machines.



No. 840,887. PATENTBD JAN. 25, 1907.

' A. WOOD.

THREAD CLIP FOR SBWIN G- MACHINES.

' APPLICATION iILED JAN.15,-l906.

Fybl W gyi M BY ATTORNEYS "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED WOOD, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF MAMARONEOK, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

Application filed January 15. 1906. Serial No. 296,020.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Wool), of Waterford, county of Saratoga, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread-Clips for Sewing- Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to' thread-gripping means intended for employment in connection with a sewing-machine, whereby when the work is pulled out of the machine the lower threador the upper thread, or both, may be gripped and securely held ready for the next sewing o eration.

The 0 ject of my invention is to hold the end of the thread or threads at the commencement of a new sewing operation, so as to insure tight firm stitching right from the start.

My invention comprises an improved means whereby the thread or threads shall be but lightly gripped while the threads are being drawn in one direction'i. 9., while the work is being removedbut that the threads shall be so firmly held against movement in the other direction as to positively prevent the ends thereof from being freed during the commencement of a sewing operation. I have also provided a plurality of independent thread-gripping means arranged across the path of movement of the threads, so that the threads will be gripped whether the work be pulled straight out of the machine or ulled out to one side or the other of a centra line. In this form of my invention such means comprises a helix, the adjacent turns of which will serve to grip the thread between them. By supporting this helix at its opposite ends, the portion thereof between the ends being free and arranged in a curve between the points of support, the thread will be securely gripped against movement in one direction, while movement in the other will be freely permitted.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe an embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a top view of a sewing-machine work-clamp provided with thread-gripping means embodying my inw ention secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in partial side elevation and partial central transverse section of parts of the work-clamp shown in Fig. 1, showing the clamp as opened and the work as being removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is an under side view of the resser-foot removed from the other parts. Fig. 4 is a central sectional view thereof transverse of the longitudinal axis of the helix comprising the thread-gripping means. Fig. ,5 isa view similar to Fig. 3 showing the clip as employed on a different kind of presserfoot. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view for the purpose of illustrating certain principles of operation. 1

, Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 10 designates a presser-foot, and 11 a cloth-clamp, the same comprising a portion of a sewing-machine or sewing-machine attachment. Secured to the under side of the presser-foot is a helix 12, said helix attached at its opposite ends thereto by means of screws 13 or the like, the portion between its supported ends being free and arranged in a curve, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 3. This helix is arranged with its longitudinal axis directly across the path of the upper thread as the work is being drawnfrom the machine, so that upon attempting to withdraw the work theupper or needle thread will be forced between adjacent turns of the helix, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. I v

A small depressing-spring 14 may be employed, if desired, to force the helix down into a proper position to grip the thread, said spring yielding when the presser-foot is pressed down upon the work, so as not'to interfere with the proper operation of the sewing-machine. The thread will move readily in this direction, because the friction between the thread and the adjacent turns of' the helix will merely tend to elongate the helix that is, to increase the total length of the curve between the points of support. Thus there will be little resistance to the movement of the thread, and hence little resistance to the removal of the work. After the work has been thus removed the threads may be severed, and upon the first commencement of new work the needle-thread will be held firmly, so as to enforce the proper stitching from the start. The thread, though port held but loosely in one direction, will be held tightly by the thread-grippin means in the opposite direction, because irectly an attempt is made to pull the thread in the direction opposite to which it was pulled when the work was removed the tendency will be to draw the helix-coils together, and thus to shorten the distance between'the points of support. This will cause the coils to grip the thread with an ever increasing pressure, and I have found in actual practice that the thread while moving readily in one direction willordinarily break before it will be released byattempted movement in the oppo site direction. During the first sewing operation the'pull upon the thread isof course inthe direction in which. it will be most firmly gripped.

In Fig-6 I have'shown a diagrammatic view in which 13-13 represent the points of support for the helix, it represents the axis of the helix when. the thread is pulled in the direction of the arrow (1, and y representsthe axis ofthe helix when the thread is pulled in the direction .of the arrow v b; but a small portion- .of the actual helix is. shown at the center thereof, the rest being represented by a single line corresponding to the axis thereof, and the extent of opening and clos:

ing of the helix is greatlyexaggerated; but,

the said view illustrates the principle and is made for this purpose.

Upon the cloth plate or other work-sup- 11 I may arrange a similar helix 15, arranged in the path of movement of the lower thread as the work is withdrawn, so that by this meansboth upper and lower threads may be roperly taken care of.

The t read clip herein may of course be employed in connection withotherforms of mechanism besides thatwith which it is illustrated. "In Fig. 5 I have shown the same connected with a presser-foot having spring clamping-jaws 16, the ends of the helix being attached by screws or rivets to the arms of t re s ring-jaws.

What I claim is- I y 1. Thread-gripping means comprising 'a -helix supported axially across thepath of movement of the thread to be gripped, whereby thread may be received between adjacent coils thereof..

2. Thread-gripping. means comprising a vance of the point of sewi radial directions, may

. means, substantially as chine presser-foot, of a ends beneath helix su ported in a'cur've its'axis across the pat of movement of the thread to be gripped, whereby thread may be received between adjacent coils thereof.

3. Thread-gripping I means comprising a; helix supported at its ends inthe path of movement of the thread to be gri ped, and

with its axis transverse to such pat of movement whereby thread may be received between adjacent coils thereof, said hell); arranged in a curve between itspoints of support. p 4. A thread-gripping device for sewingmachine comprismg a plurality of separate gripping surfaces arranged radially in ad drawn from the point of 'sewingin different anyone of a number of points."

ng so that'thr'ead v I be gripp'edthereby at Y 5. The combination with a presser-foot, oi e a helix secured thereto, with its axis in a'horizontal'plane transverse to the path of movement of thread to be gripped,

adapted and arranged as a thread-gripping set forth. 1.

6.. The combination with a sewing-ma helix secured beneath same and disposed in a curve across the path of movement of the needle-thread of the machine while the work is being removed, the said helix being arranged with its axis trans- Verse to the said path of movement of the thread, whereby the thread may be receive between adjacent coils of the helix.

7i -The combination with a sewing-machine presser-foot, of a helix secured at 1ts same, said helix disposed in a curve between its pointsof support and with its axis across the path of movement of the needle-thread of the machine while thework is being removed, whereby thread may be received between adjacent coils thereof.

8. In a sewingmachine, the combination with a work-support, of a helix arranged thereon arranged with its axis across the path of movement of the thread while the work is being removed, whereby thread may be re ceived betwee'n adjacent coils thereof.

ALFRED woon Witnesses: I I

HENRY .C. GAUNT, JAMES H. CLARET.

75 said'helix 

